Report: McLaughlin goal seals superb three points

A Conor McLaughlin goal was enough for Fleetwood Town to make it six points in four days after a battling 1-0 win at Chesterfield.

Head Coach Uwe Rosler fielded an unchanged side from Saturday’s victory against Peterborough United, including a second start for goal scorer Jack Sowerby in midfield.

The Cod Army were forced into an early change as Chris Neal fell victim to a Gary Liddle challenge. The Spireites midfielder had the ball in the net but the goal was chalked off for the foul. Alex Cairns came on to make his Fleetwood Town debut.

Within minutes, Cairns was almost picking the ball out of his own net as Gboly Ariyibi’s long range curling effort rattled the inside of the post and rebounded out to safety.

Both sides were struggling to break each other down and it was to take a mistake for another clear-cut chance to fall. The hosts should have been ahead when Kristian Dennis intercepted Jimmy Ryan’s loose back pass, but Cairns saved Ryan’s blushes with a tremendous one-on-one save.

In a move completely against the run of play, it was Town who took the lead on the brink of half time as their only real chance fell to Conor McLaughlin. A breakaway move involving Kyle Dempsey and Sowerby saw the latter cut the ball back to a waiting McLaughlin who placed the ball past the hapless Ryan Fulton.

The second half began with the same intensity that the first ended as Chesterfield almost grabbed an equaliser from the off as Dennis fired just wide.

At the other end it was Fleetwood’s turn to have a go. Fulton made a stunning save to deny Sowerby his second goal in as many games after Hunter’s pull back.

The introduction of substitute Ched Evans saw the noise inside a chilly Proact Stadium rise, and the home side responded as they upped their game. Cairns did well to dive on the ball after a goalmouth scramble from a Spireites corner.

Despite the hosts pressure, it was Town who should have scored the second of the match on the counter attack, as David Ball missed two golden chances. Fulton did well on both occasions to clear the ball to safety after the striker penetrated the back four.

Arguably the Spireites biggest chance of the game fell to substitute Evans as a deflected ball found its way to the striker in the box, but he could only volley against the crossbar.

Another goalmouth scramble required Cairns to make a superb save, as the Cod Army defended for their lives in the closing minutes.

A late charge from Jay O’Shea saw the midfielder almost grab a late equaliser for the home side, but Cairns was able to make the save.

Fleetwood will be hoping to make it three wins on the bounce with victory at Millwall on Saturday.